United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Whitesands Bay. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Flat as a lake. Save your energy for another day. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong onshore blowing everything out. Give it a miss. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Whitesands Bay is a picturesque, highly exposed beach break located on the St Davids Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The bathymetry comprises a mix of mobile silica sandbanks interspersed with occasional submerged rock outcroppings near the headlands. Because the coastline juts out into the Irish Sea, it acts as a magnet for south-westerly Atlantic groundswells, capturing energy even when other regional spots are flat. An easterly wind provides optimal offshore conditions, funnelling off the land to hold up the wave faces. The wave mechanics produce fast, punchy A-frame peaks that offer steep drops and carveable sections, occasionally throwing hollow barrels on lower tides. Due to the high volume of water moving across the shallow sandbars, the wave generates substantial hydraulic force and creates powerful, shifting rip currents. While smaller summer conditions are manageable for novices, the heavier winter swells demand the spatial awareness, swift pop-ups, and board control of an intermediate surfer.
Heads up: jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 71% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:12
Moderate water clarity: ~5m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Whitesands Bay
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Whitesands Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Whitesands Bay
Whitesands Bay is a beautiful, exposed beach break on the St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It faces west into the Atlantic and picks up swell with good consistency. The sand is bright and clean, backed by the coastal path and the smallest city in Britain (St David's) nearby. Multiple peaks break across the bay and the wave quality is good for a beach break. A reliable spot that delivers when the swell is running.
Picks up westerly Atlantic swell. An easterly offshore wind provides clean conditions. Works on all tides. Consistent from September through May. The 2-6ft range is most user-friendly. Above that it becomes powerful and can close out. The sheltered southern end works in bigger swells when the open beach is too much.
Peaks form across the bay with the central section usually having the most defined banks. The southern end is more sheltered and works as a refuge in bigger swells. The northern end catches slightly more swell. The sand shifts regularly so observe before paddling out. Channels between the banks provide paddle-out routes.
Rip currents on bigger days, particularly in the channels between banks. Rocks at both ends of the beach are exposed at lower tides. The beach is fully exposed to Atlantic weather. Lifeguards in summer only. The exposed headlands mean weather can change quickly.
Pay car park right behind the beach. Short walk to the sand. Toilets and a seasonal cafe at the car park. Gets busy with beachgoers in summer but the car park is reasonably large.
Moderately busy on good days. The Pembrokeshire surf community uses Whitesands as a primary spot. Weekends can see 15-20 people. Surf schools operate in summer. The beach is large enough to spread out. Midweek autumn sessions are quiet.
Whitesands is more sheltered than Newgale (further north) and handles bigger swells better due to the bay's shape. If Newgale is maxed out, check Whitesands. Conversely, if Whitesands is flat, Newgale might have something. The cathedral at St David's is genuinely impressive and worth a visit on flat days. The Blue Lagoon chippy in Abereiddy (15 minutes) is superb.
Surf at Whitesands Bay
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Whitesands Bay tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 27/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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